DRIVERS in Warrington and Halton are being urged not to give thieves an easy ride.
An increase in the number of thefts from vehicles across the area has led to police appealing for motorists to be on their guard.
Thieves have been targeting vehicles where valuable items including laptops, mobile phones, sat navs, i-pods and handbags have been left on show.
The majority of these incidents have involved vehicles that have been left insecure.
In Warrington, the incidents have been in the Great Sankey and Grappenhall areas.
Police patrols have been stepped up in hot spot areas in a bid to actively target those responsible – and to reassure motorists.
Detective Inspector Simon Blackwell said: “We are urging drivers to remain security conscious at all times. We cannot stress how important it is to ensure your vehicle is locked and secure when it is unattended – even for a few seconds.
“Thieves have been known to simply try car doors looking for those that are not locked rather than having to force entry.
“We are doing all we can to reduce the number of thefts from vehicles across Halton and Warrington but we need the continued support of motorists to help drive down this type of crime.
“By assessing your current security measures and taking a few simple steps you can significantly reduce the chances of your vehicle being targeted.
“It is also important to remember that a theft from an insecure vehicle could also invalidate any insurance claim.”
